Further diabetes treatment breakthrough

According to the New England Journal of Medicine this week, a team of scientists at Zurich University may have created an exciting new form of therapy that could influence the progression of type 2 diabetes .
Type 2 affects 90 per cent of diabetics, and new treatments are eagerly awaited. Apparently, several drug companies have already reviewed the Zurich study, and a drug resulting from the study should hit the market in between three and five year’s time.
The study, which was led by Marc Donath, a professor of endocrinology and diabetes, found that a drug commonly used for arthritis could target the root causes of diabetes. Donath reportedly commented: “Until now we had treatments which weren’t able really to stop progression of the disease and here we are interfering with a mechanism responsible for it.”
The drug, Anakinra, blocks the action of interleuki, a substance that destroys beta cells. The drug was tested on 36 people, with positive results and few side effects. The results of the study could help to fight diabetes at its development. Donath concluded: “Around 246 million patients worldwide have diabetes. What is especially worrying is that a dramatic increase is expected in the next years, not only in western countries, but also in Africa and India .”